One day, two emotions: farewell and a promise. On Saturday, September 6, 2025, Hindus will mark Anant Chaturdashi 2025—the final immersion of Ganpati idols after ten days of celebration, and the sacred vow to Lord Vishnu as Ananta Padmanabha, the preserver resting on the endless serpent. It is a day that blends crowds and quiet prayers, processions and vows, endings and the idea of infinity.
Traditionally observed on the 14th day of the bright fortnight (Shukla Paksha) in Bhadrapada, the festival carries dual weight for devotees of Vishnu and Ganesha. The Sanskrit word “Anant” means infinite—fitting for a day meant to steady the mind, protect families from misfortune, and remind people that forms pass, but spirit remains.
Date, time and why it matters in 2025
According to the Hindu Panchang in India (IST), the Chaturdashi Tithi begins at 3:12 am on September 6 and ends at 1:41 am on September 7. The broader puja muhurat runs from 6:23 am on September 6 to 1:41 am on September 7, giving families nearly 19 hours to perform the Ananta Padmanabha worship at home or visit temples. Many priests recommend performing the core rituals in the morning to early afternoon, when households can gather without rush.
If you are outside India, check your local Panchang or temple calendar; timings shift with location. In big Indian cities, the same day also marks the grand Ganesh Visarjan. That means early morning home pujas often give way to afternoon and evening immersion processions. Local authorities typically announce traffic diversions, designate immersion points, and deploy lifeguards and sanitation teams to handle the crowds and post-immersion cleanup.
Two currents flow through this day. For Vishnu devotees, Anant Chaturdashi is about stability and renewal—tying the sacred thread with 14 knots, taking a long-term vow, and asking for continuity in family life. For Ganesha devotees, it is about gratitude and letting go—thanking the remover of obstacles and returning the clay idol to water with a promise to invite him again next year.
Rituals, stories, and how different places mark the day
The Ananta Padmanabha worship centers on Vishnu in his timeless form—reclining on the serpent Ananta, the endless foundation of the cosmos. The rite’s signature is the Anant Sutra, a sacred cotton thread with 14 knots representing the 14 lokas (realms) and the many facets of life we try to hold together with faith and discipline.
Many households follow this simple rule: men tie the thread on the right arm, women on the left. The thread is often turmeric-stained or colored—yellow for women, red for men is a common practice—and is worn until it naturally falls off. The act is meant to fix the mind on endurance, reminding the wearer to keep the vow even when life gets messy.
There is a popular story behind the vow. In the Mahabharata, Yudhishthira takes the Anant Vrat after a string of losses and hardships. Guided to worship the eternal Vishnu and tie the sacred thread, he regains stability through patience and devotion rather than quick fixes. The moral lands well in modern life: you do not control the dice, but you can control your vow.
The Anant Vrat itself is traditionally observed for 14 consecutive years by families—especially married couples seeking harmony, protection, and continuity. Those who begin the fast aim to complete the cycle and perform an udyapan (a closing rite) in the fourteenth year. People who cannot fast due to health or age usually keep a simple, satvik diet and focus on puja and charity; the intention matters more than the menu.
While the Anant Vrat happens at home, Ganesh Visarjan spills onto streets and shorelines. In Maharashtra, the immersion processions—marked by drums, chants of “Ganpati Bappa Morya,” and color—thread through neighborhoods to beaches, lakes, or artificial ponds. In Karnataka and Goa, families that welcomed Gauri-Ganesh earlier in the fortnight bid farewell with similar warmth. In Kerala, many families keep the Anantha Vratham at home, while in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, temples dedicated to Anantha Padmanabha see steady queues.
Clay and conscience now sit at the heart of Visarjan. Many cities encourage eco-friendly idols made of unbaked clay, natural colors, and shadu maati. Artificial immersion tanks have become common in housing societies and public grounds to protect lakes and rivers. Volunteers collect flowers (nirmalya) for composting, and noise curbs are more visible. The idea is simple: devotion should not damage the very nature we worship.
Here is a concise home guide for the Anant Puja:
- Clean and prepare the altar. Place an image or idol of Lord Ananta Padmanabha. If available, keep a small serpent motif or a Sheshnaag depiction beside Vishnu.
- Set a kalash (pot) with water, mango leaves, and a coconut on top; draw a swastika with kumkum or turmeric on the kalash.
- Arrange puja items: the 14-knot Anant Sutra, flowers, tulsi leaves, durva grass (if also offering to Ganesha), sandalwood paste, kumkum, akshat (rice), incense, ghee lamp, fruits, sweets, and panchamrit (milk, curd, ghee, honey, sugar).
- Take a sankalp (vow) with water in hand—state your name, date, and intent to worship Ananta for family well-being and spiritual steadiness.
- Offer water and panchamrit abhishek to Vishnu (if appropriate for your tradition), then perform archana with tulsi leaves and flowers. Many recite Vishnu Sahasranama or the Ananta Stotra.
- Offer naivedya (prasad) such as kheer, laddoo, or seasonal fruits. Light the lamp and incense.
- Tie the 14-knot thread on the arm—men on the right, women on the left—while praying for stability and clarity.
- Perform aarti, distribute prasad, and give dana (charity) as per capacity, including grain or food to those in need.
If you are observing the fast, keep it satvik—simple meals without onion, garlic, or heavy spices. Hydrate well, and avoid strict fasting if you have medical conditions; adjust with fruit or milk and speak to a doctor if needed. The vow is meant to anchor you, not harm you.
On the Ganesha side, many families plan the farewell after the home puja. Housing societies often conduct collective immersions in on-site tanks, a practical shift that reduces travel time and water pollution. For public immersions, follow these basics:
- Use certified eco-friendly idols and natural decorations. Avoid plastic glitter, thermocol, and toxic paints.
- Head to designated immersion points; listen to police and volunteer instructions. Keep children away from the water’s edge.
- If using boats or entering deeper water, wear life jackets. Respect barricades and tide warnings.
- Carpool or use public transport. Processions are slow; plan for delays and carry water.
- Segregate nirmalya (flowers, leaves) for collection. Do not leave plastic or food waste at the site.
For many artisans and small traders, this season is livelihood. Clay idol makers, flower sellers, drummers, sweet shops, and lighting vendors all see a surge. Municipal crews, sanitation teams, and lifeguards work long shifts to keep the city moving. Even as the faith dimension stays central, the civic and economic layers are impossible to miss.
Temples dedicated to Anantha Padmanabha will be focal points on the day. In South India, families set up neat home altars for the vratham, with women often leading the puja. In North and Western India, where Ganesh Utsav’s public celebrations are larger, the Visarjan may dominate the urban rhythm, while the Anant Puja happens quietly at home in the morning.
The symbolism is unusually crisp. Vishnu’s restful, cosmic posture speaks to inner quiet before action—the pause that resets a life. The serpent Ananta is the backbone of continuity, the silent infrastructure of the universe. The thread with 14 knots is a wearable reminder that big change begins with small, steady acts done every day.
On the streets, the tone is different but connected. Ganesh Visarjan says: celebrate fully, then let go. Idols dissolve, songs fade, and crowds thin out. What stays is the habit of starting again—the same habit the Anant vow tries to build indoors.
For the diaspora, community centers and temples will likely host morning pujas, followed by controlled, eco-friendly immersions in tanks or nearby water bodies where permitted. Many families will livestream temple darshan to relatives back home and rely on local Hindu calendars for time zones. The shared calendar matters; the shared intent matters more.
If you are new to the tradition and want a simple starter plan, this works well: do a clean, minimal morning puja at home, tie the thread, offer prasad, and donate food to someone who needs it. In the evening, join a local Visarjan or attend an aarti. Keep it safe, keep it kind to the environment, and let the rituals nudge you toward steadiness rather than superstition.
A final note on timing in 2025: with the Tithi active from 3:12 am on September 6 to 1:41 am on September 7, and the puja muhurat from 6:23 am to 1:41 am (India), households have unusual flexibility this year. If mornings are packed, the early afternoon window still falls nicely within the recommended period for Ananta Puja. For Visarjan, many neighborhoods choose late afternoon to evening, when the heat drops and processions can move together.
In the end, Anant Chaturdashi holds together threads that look opposite at first glance. One ritual asks you to release what you love; the other asks you to hold a vow for years. Put them side by side and they make sense: let go of what must end, and hold on to what should last.